Battlecruiser

"Although it may take some time to get into action, once operational, the Battlecruiser is simply unmatched by any opposing unit – whether it be Protoss, Terran, or Zerg. Between its high-intensity barrage of lasers and its cataclysmic Yamato Cannon, the Battlecruiser is equipped enough to destroy any unfortunate target it might set its sights upon."

Contents

Overview

A battlecruiser

Battlecruisers stem as far back as the early days of the Terran Confederacy.[6] While there are many classes of battlecruisers, all are armed with lasers and protected by neosteel armor.[7] These laser weapons consist of multiple twin-cannon laser batteries for aerial defense and surface bombardment, located across the battlecruiser's hull. Its air-to-air guns—not as powerful as its air-to-ground ones—are equipped with advanced optics and sensors to deal with fast moving targets. The vessel's air-to-ground guns make use of electromagnetic coils to increase the potency of their shots.[8]

Battlecruisers were employed during the Guild Wars when space engagements were fought by capital ships and medium-sized gunships. The development of anti-capital ship starfighters, such as Wraiths, did not spell the end of battlecruisers. The large warships adapted to carry strike craft which augmented and complemented the combat value of both. Battlecruisers continue to be an integral part of terran space forces as general purpose warships[9] and command ships during extended campaigns.[10]

A battlecruiser inside warp space

Gravity accelerators are also found on all battlecruisers.[11]Warp drives are also fixed on battlecruisers, allowing it to achieve FTL travel. Besides the standard set of safety features, some battlecruisers have a secondary, short range warp drive to reduce wear and tear on the main one. It also serves as backup in emergency situations, such as the need to effect a blind jump, which is a very risky endeavor, to retreat from a hot zone. The shorter range reduces the likelihood that vessel and crew will end up stranded for years in a remote location.[8] When operating in atmospheric conditions, battlecruisers are kept aloft through antigravity technology.[12]

Battlecruisers are not unlike self-contained cities, and house crews ranging in size from 4000 to 7000. Besides the standard facilities required by a warship, battlecruisers boast an assortment of cantinas and rec rooms.[8]

Battlecruiser shields flaring up as a result of impact

Battlecruisers use force fields for protection, but because they consume vast amounts of energy, these are only used when a battlecruiser is vulnerable, such as leaving warp space or entering an atmosphere. Otherwise the battlecruiser relies on its heavy armor for protection.[13] In the case of an emergency, battlecruisers are outfitted with jump-pods, allowing the crew to abandon the ship and survive in deep space for days at a time.[4]

After the Brood War, battlecruiser research was done through fusion cores, which harassed nuclear energy and antimatter to improve on their design.[12]

Known Classes

Leviathan-class

The Leviathan-class was uncommon at the start of the 26th century, having largely been supplanted by the Behemoth-class. The Leviathan could travel in warp space. Auxiliary craft docked at hydraulic ports. The ports were perilously close to the bridge, making the class vulnerable to enemy boarding actions.[14]

Behemoth-class

"Only the finest officers are chosen to serve aboard the pride of the Confederate fleet-- do you have what it takes?"

The Behemoth-class was the most common type during the Great War, representing a noticeable improvement over the Leviathan. It can travel through warp space,[9] operate within atmospheres and land on planetary surfaces.[15] The Hyperion, a souped-up Behemoth, can make warp jumps from within planetary atmospheres.[16]Second Great War-era Behemoths had crews of 6000.[3]

The class is armed with burst laser batteries;[16] and nuclear warheads[17] Older ships did not have side firing arcs for the laser batteries.[11] The batteries were also vulnerable to interceptors.[18] The warheads were reserved for orbital bombardment rather than for space combat.[15] The Yamato cannon entered service aboard the Behemoth just before the Great War.[1] Battlecruisers received the Colossus reactor to better meet the cannon's enormous energy requirements.[10]

The Behemoth-class is protected by standard neosteel armor[10] and energy shields,[11][9] It is less vulnerable to enemy boarding actions.[20] A hit from a Yamato cannon can cripple a Behemoth.[3]Behemoths are powered by fusion reactors, but these are regarded as outdated when compared to the fusion technology utilized by the Minotaur-class. Efforts are being made to retrofit old vessels. To this day, many battlecruisers belonging to the old ex-Confederate guard still use antiquated reactors—poorly maintained or jury-rigged to yield higher energy outputs—that have a tendency to leak.[8]

Hercules-class

The Hercules-class entered service after the Brood War. The Hercules could be equipped with plasma torpedoes for saturation ground bombardment. Like the Yamato cannon, the plasma torpedo system also had a large energy requirement.[7]

These battlecruisers have personnel quarters, a brig, a mess hall[27] and a bridge.[32] Their fusion reactors are cleaner and more efficient than the outdated reactors of the Behemoth-class. This includes the lack of leakage.[8]

In 2503,[33] Dominion Minotaurs were suddenly withdrawn to be refitted for interatmospheric combat at Korhal IV. The battlecruisers were ordered to abandon their current assignments, disembark passengers and cargo on nearby habitable worlds, and proceed immediately to the Dominion capital.[34]

Gorgon-class

"Bristling with laser batteries and thousands of glittering optic sensors, this flying neosteel citadel projects the Dominion's raw power and growing technical sophistication across the Koprulu sector like nothing else. Housing anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 crewmembers, the Gorgon-class battlecruiser is the gleaming apex of terran military engineering."

The Gorgon-class battlecruiser is the most powerful warship ever fielded by the terrans of the Koprulu sector.[1] It is larger than the Behemoth-class.[3] The interior includes a bridge,[32] and extensive crew facilities which include cantinas and rec rooms. They are equipped with thousands of optic sensors, multiple laser batteries, and can field a crew complement of 6,000—8,000 terrans.[1]Gorgons can withstand multiple Yamato cannon hits.[3]

Moirai-class

A Moirai-class battlecruiser

Moirai-class battlecruisers were developed for the Dominion Special Forces during the reign of Valerian Mengsk, and an upgrade over their predecessors. They had a lengthy research and testing period, and were made exclusive to the Special Forces. To accommodate their design, a special fusion core was developed for the special forces with quadruple the energy output but with no increase in its heat signature.[12]

Sovereign-class

This article or section contains information derived from Co-op Missions, and should not be considered part of the official StarCraft storyline.

Game Unit

StarCraft

StarCraft: Ghost

This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.

In StarCraft: Ghost, the battlecruiser acted as a support unit for Nova. Through targeting, the player could call down a Yamato Cannon strike that dealt damage to all objects in an area.[40]

"Super-battlecruisers" are designated as such, without the "class" designation.[37] This may be indicative of an different type of ship altogether. However, it has been listed on this page to avoid a stub article.

Mega Bloks planned to make 3,000 battlecruiser models as part of its StarCraft toyline. A poll was opened as to which model(s) fans would like to see them represent.[43] A 2011 limited edition set was released.[44]

Sizes

The Mega Bloks battlecruiser

Different sizes for battlecruisers have been given from differing sources.

A Behemoth-class battlecruiser was stated as being two "leagues" long in StarCraft: Uprising.[11] Most league measurements would have put the battlecruiser as over 9 km (5.6 miles) in length.

The Bucephalus, a Gorgon model,[3][2] has been stated to be 560 meters long and 82.4 meters wide.[30][2] This puts the two figures at odds, as the Bucephalus has been stated to be larger than the Hyperion (a Behemoth-class), and that the White Star (another Gorgon) has been stated to be "the largest vessel ever constructed by humanity."[3]

Compounding this further is that while the sizes figures for the Bucephalus have remained constant, its depiction has altered. In Wings of Liberty, a holographic display depicts it as being a Minotaur-class,[30] while it was depicted as a Gorgon-class in Flashpoint.[3] In the StarCraft Field Manual, the Minotaur-class can be approximated as being 1km in length, and 243 meters in height.[1]